by Theresa Stevens on January 5th, 2009
I have a friend who moved to California about five years ago. She was a very good friend, but with the huge distance separating us we’ve kind of lost touch. A few weeks ago, she sent me an email to wish us a Merry Christmas, and I sent one back. Last night, I was playing around on my Blackberry and I noticed she was online with Google Talk. I sent her a message and proceeded to have a 30-minute electronic conversation with her. We got caught up on what’s been going on in our lives in the last year (that was the last time I communicated with her…electronically).
It was great to “talk” with her, but it got me thinking. Do we rely on electronic communication too much these days? What ever happened to calling someone up on the actual (gasp) phone and yakking for an hour? I have friends in their 20s who laugh about how their mom called them to dinner via chat when they were kids. And they were in the same house!!! We got three actual Christmas cards in the mail this year, but I got about 8 electronic cards.
While writing this article, I paused a few times to check posts on Plurk and Facebook. I’m also logged into Yahoo, Google Talk and MSN Live Messenger via a multi-protocol chat client. I have my work email open and it notifies me when a new message comes in. I also have Gmail open in a separate tab in my browser. I have a phone on my desk, a Blackberry on my hip and my personal cell phone in my purse. Is this too much?
Ironically, I’m writing this article to be posted on a blog where people can leave electronic comments to discuss the article. My article is preventing people from having an actual conversation.
This morning when I dropped my daughter off at day care, I watched her playing with her friends and wondered… How many more years will she actually play before her friendships become electronic?
by Theresa Stevens on September 12th, 2008
I was reading an article on CNN.com about the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon when I remembered something that happened to me on Friday night.
I was in the Wendy’s in Marshfield with my daughter on our “date night.” She was trying to get through her hamburger so she could have her Frosty and I was gobbling the sour cream on my baked potato. I looked up and saw an older gentleman at the condiment counter, and the whole evening changed for me. The gentleman was wearing a retired Marine hat and t-shirt and was leaning on a cane. He started walking back to his table, so I got up and followed him. When he reached his table, where his wife and young daughter were waiting for him, he turned around and looked at me. I held my hand out to shake his and said, “I don’t mean to disturb your meal, but I wanted to take a moment to say thank you.” He took my hand, looked me deeply in the eyes and said, “You’re welcome.” With that, I walked away.
I went to the counter to get my daughter’s Frosty, and he followed me. When he got to the counter, he turned to me and said, “Ma’am, that young man working the drive-thru is also a Marine.” I waited a moment until the young man came near me and said, “Excuse me, but I just thanked that gentleman for his service, and he told me you’re a Marine, too. I just wanted to say thank you.” That young man also looked me deeply in the eyes and said, “You’re welcome, and thank you for recognizing our service.”
As I walked back to my table with tears in my eyes, I passed the older gentleman’s wife who mouthed the words “thank you” to me. I stopped to tell her that I always thank service people when I see them, but I can’t do it without tearing up. You see, I have a little girl, and I understand that our men and women are serving our country for her future. A future where she can be free to reach whatever goals she sets for herself. With that, I got all choked up and couldn’t speak, so I waved goodbye and walked back to my table. My daughter saw the tears in my eyes and asked why I was crying. I told her “because I love you.”
We finished our meal by sharing her Frosty. As we left the restaurant I made eye contact with the retired Marine. There was such gratitude in his face – gratitude for a complete stranger who took a moment to thank him for doing his job.
Now I’d like to challenge everyone reading this. Please, no matter how silly or embarrassed you feel, say “thank you” to each and every service person you meet in your daily travels. Even if you don’t support the war in the Middle East, please support the people who are giving their lives to fight for us. A simple little “thank you” can make all the difference.
